It never rains but it pours (again)

Today I travelled slightly over 100 miles, all in torrential rain. I met one person in a garden centre (after three years they still don't have any community buildings) - the sound of the rain on the roof meant we had to raise our voices -VERY loudly!

Again I met three brilliant people and three excellent projects. But there was an issue with all of them and something that has been hammered home to me on this trip; the projects are funded for 5 years but there is no way that any of them (nor mine) is likely to be self funding within that 5 years. I had a hunch that this was the case and part of the reason that I had already said that I believe Cranbrook to be a 10-15 year project. This is sobering but means that I can plan accordingly; managing expectations is key so that the we are not rushed and can build on solid ground with properly measures milestones.

What has impressed me hugely again today is the absolute trust that people have in God and how that trust sustains and motivates them. They modify their homes, their finances and their lives to serve their community - again it is the forming of relationships and making genuine friends that allows faith to be shared - people respond to generosity-  I know because I have been on the recieving end of that generosity today.

I have had a few twinges of guilt also today. The groundwork that has been done to prepare me for Cranbrook, the infrastructure of building avaiable, the timing of my appointment - right at the beginning, the response of people living there and about to move in and the huge benefit of having such a brilliant school and headmistress to work with have given me a brilliant start. Many of these things, on many of the projects just arn't there. I feel a little guilty but also feel again that God's has already 'poured' his blessing on the work that I have been asked to do.

Because of the rain and the fact that many local roads around Northampton and in Somerset and Devon are closed I may miss by final visit tomorrow and instead return home in the daylight. I was to visit Cambourne tomorrow so I have just rung the minister to explain my predicament. His is one of the most sucessful church plants and after talking to him I can see that he is part of the reason - he is an encourager and it was an encouraging conversation. The other reason is that he was allowed ten years to make his project fully viable and was there from the very beginning and sponsored by a variety of denominations. Ths sounds so much like Cranbrook and so much like what I am being asked to do. So again I am grateful to the God who has gone before me, thankful for those who have already joined me and are about to, I am also relieved that I will only be driving 250 miles instead of 350 and should get home before nightfall if the floods allow.